Electrically operated game for the racing of movable bodies



Jan. 25, 1966 J, LQMBARD 3,231,275

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GAME FOR THE RACING OF MOVABLE BODIES Filed March 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jall- 1966 E. J. M. LOMBARD 3,231,275

EL ECTRICALLY OPERATED GAME FOR THE RACING 0F MOVABLE BODIES Filed March 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office Claims The present invention relates to an electrically-operated racing game for automobiles or other moving bodies, and is characterized by the following features:

(1) Each player is able to control, by appropriate operating means, the speed of the moving bodies subjected to his control.

(2) The competition of skill of the competitors is still further diversified by the use of automatic features which divide up the race or the game into various phases of play, during which the competitors are required, through the intermediary of a light signal system, either to increase the speed of their moving body to the maximum permissible, or on the contrary to reduce the speed at a point or in a particular sector of the circuit, or finally to stop the said moving body or to start it off again, each operating fault or delay committed by a player in the execution of these orders resulting automatically either in a momentary stoppage of the moving body or in placing the player in an unfavorable position on the counter which has the function of measuring and analyzing the results of the competition.

The present invention is applicable to all racing games for vehicles of small model size or for any kind of moving bodies employing electrical means, and will find a more particular application in the presentation of automobile racing games driven by magnetic or electro-mag netic means, such games necessitating the use of mechanisms fulfilling the objects specified above, and to provide suflicient diversity and competitive interest.

The particular features of the present invention and the methods of its application for example to an automobile racing game with magnetic drive, will be brought out more clearly from the description which follows below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram adapted for causing momentary stoppage of the driving motor of a moving body which has exceeded an authorized speed at any particular location on the track,

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram adapted to cause the recording by an appropriate counter of bonus points to the credit of the player who, at a particular point or in a particular sector of the track and in a particular phase of the game, has imparted maximum speed to the moving body under his control,

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram adapted to cause the recording on the same counter of one or several bonus points to the credit of the player who, :at a particular point or in a particular sector of the track, has been able to apply to the moving body which he controls, the optimum rate of slowing down,

FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically a programmer designed to ensure the successive supply of the various electric circuits to which the driving motors of the movable playing piecesare connected, or by means of which the game is split-up into a number of phases having their own playing rules and their particular penalizations and controls.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the distribution of the various electrical circuits, and of the use in these circuits of the time-delay electric: relays contem- 3,231,275 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 plated by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in a coin operated racing game within the scope of the present invention, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the overall device according to the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 1 represents a movable member which is driven by a conventional mechanism including an electric motor 10 and a magnetic coupling means. The passage of this member 1 acts on a first contact 2 and thereby close a circuit a in which are inserted and excited by reason of this closure, an electromagnet 3 and a condenser 4. This electro-magnet 3 acts in its turn on a contact 5 belonging to a further circuit b, thereby forming a time-delay relay by virtue of the action of the condenser 4, in accordance with well-known electrical principles.

This second circuit b, which in turn comprises a second point of interruption, will only be closed if, at this second point of interruption, a contact 6 actuated in its turn by the meber 1 during the course of its movement, is operated before the contact 5 has re-opened.

In this circuit b is also included, and excited by the closure of the said circuit, a similar electro-rnagnet 7 (matched with a condenser 8), intended to produce in a third circuit c, normally closed and supplying the driving motor 10 of one of the movable playing pieces on the track, an interruption which results in the stoppage of this motor for the duration of the time-delay provided by the condenser 8.

It can clearly be seen that if the moving member 1 is displaced too rapidly, taking account of the duration of discharge of the condenser 4, it will reach and operate the contact d before the opening of the contact 5, thereby causing the closure of the circuit b and the interruption of the circuit 0 which supplies the motor 10, by the action of the time-delay relay constituted by 7, 8 and 9. A slowing-down of the member 1, and, in consequence, of the movable playing piece on the track will therefore be necessary in order that the member 1 may act too late on the contact 6 to cause the closure of the circuit b and consequently to cause the interruption of the supply circuit of the motor 10.

FIG. 2 shows how a similar device arranged at another point of the course of the member 1 (or at the same point of the course of the said member 1 and by the use of the same time-delay relay formed by the parts 2, 3, 4 and 5, but in another phase of the game as will be explained later) will permit one or a number of successive closures of a circuit d, in which there is included a counter 14.

In FIG. 2, this counter 14 will receive three impulses if the three contacts 11, 12 and 13 are operated before the contact 5 is opened; two impulses only, if the contacts 11 and 12 are operated before the opening of the contact 5; one impulse only if the contact 11 alone is closed before the opening of the contact 5, and no impulse if the contact 5 is opened before the member 1 acts on the contact 11 to close the same. In other words, the higher the speed of the member 1 (and, in consequence, of the movable playing piece on the track), the greater will be the number of impulses or points recorded by the counter.

FIG. 3 employs a similar arrangement for the recording of one or a number of impulses on the same counter 14 in the case of a more or less accentuated slowing-down of the member 1. The explanations which have been given above will make it unnecessary to describe this arrangement which is based on the previous device. It is only necessary to note that the contact 9a is closed in the position of rest and opens for a very short period when the member 1 operates the contact 2.

In FIG. 4, there is shown the distribution and operating diagram of the programmer which has been previously referred to, it being noted that similar programmers currently exist and can be employed for the purposes required in the present invention. The motor of this programmer is shown at 15.

The drive of the motor 15, suitably reduced by two reduction gears 16 and 17 is communicated to a shaft, or more exactly to two sections of shaft 18 and 19 having different speeds, on which are threaded discs which carry earns, the said cams being intended to establish the various contacts adapted to vary the incidents and the phases of the game.

The disc P controls the electric supply of the game proper and serves for energizing the driving motors of the movable playing pieces, by a single rotation of about 6 minutes time duration, for example, this period corresponding to the duration of a game. The discs VL (carrying two cam surfaces defining two phases of free speed); VR (carrying one cam surface defining a phase of reduced speed); I (carrying one cam surface actuating a yellow or warning light); and R (carrying one cam surface operating a red light) rotate at a higher speed than the disc P, so that the cycles of free speed, reduced speed, yellow light and red light are repeated several times (5 times for example) during the course of a game. The discs are mounted on shafts 18 and 19 and appear thereon as seen on the left of FIG. 4. For clarification purposes, the discs are shown in plan view in the angular orientation which they have on the shafts. The two views of the discs in FIG. 4 are shown connected by arrows. The contacts controlled by the cams with which these discs are provided are indicated in FIG. 4 by the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F, enabling them to be located and their exact function to be defined by means of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 5 are shown two circuits, the first of which is supplied from the electric mains at 110 volts alternating current, and the second is supplied from the first after transformation and rectifying to 16 volts direct current. FIG. 5 therefore represents the electrical circuit of the game. The circuits in FIGS. 1-3 are incorporated in the circuit of FIG. 5, as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter. The movable bodies are displaceable along a track (diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6) and are adapted for striking contacts 2, 6, 11, I2 and 13 for operating the game. The strategic striking of contacts 2, 6, 11, 12 and 13, in accordance with established conditions of operation, is a measure of skill of the operator, as will become evident from the following. In FIGURE 5, numeral 20 is a hand-operated circuit breaker which permits the connection of the game to the supply mains; 21 is a contactor for setting the game into operation by means of a coin or counter; RI is a time-delay relay controlling the corresponding contacts 11 of the 110-volt circuit and rIbis of the 16-volt circuit, and ensuring the closure of these contacts for a few seconds following the introduction of the coin or counter. As a consequence of these closures, the programmer is energized by means of the contact rI before it is energized by the action of the contact A actuated by the cam of the disc P, and on the other hand the counting device 14 is set back to zero by virtue of the excitation of the coils 23 with which the said counting device is provided.

This preliminary phase of the game is completed by the closure of the contact B which effects:

(1) The general lighting of the game by miniature lamps placed along the edge of the track (this lighting being shown at 24);

(2) The energizing of each of the driving motors 10 of the automobiles (one circuit only being shown in the drawing) is obtained through a conventional rheostat control 26. The operating level L (FIG. 6) of the said rheostat control controls the rotation of the motor 10. By pushing lever L, the automobile 1 is accelerated.

On the other hand, by moving the lever fully towards him, the player may stop his vehicle 1.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that when the game begins, the cam which is provided on the free speed disc VL, closes the contact C. It is understood that the contacts A, B, C, D, E and F shown in FIG. 4 are the same as the contacts A, B, C, D, E and F in FIG. 5 and that the cams shown in FIG. 4 are operatively associated with the contacts to control the same. Thus, for example, when disc P is turned to cause the raised cam surface thereon to move away from finger 22, the finger simultaneously closes contacts A and B, of FIG. 4. The contacts A and B as illustrated in FIG. 5 are also closed since they represent the same contacts as shown in the complete circuit.

As a consequence of the closing of contact C, a green signal light 27 is switched on, this light being supplied by the 16 v. circuit. The players are thereby warned that in order to succeed in the competition in course, they must increase the speed of their vehicles to the maximum with the operation of the lever controlling the rheostat control 26. The diagram of FIG. 5, in association with FIG. 2 in which are shown the contacts actuated by the moving member 1 during its travel, illustrates how, during this phase of the game, the more or less high-speed imparted at a point or at various points of the track by a player to the movable playing piece which he controls, will determine to his advantage the recording of points or impulses on the counting device which is individual to him. At the same time as an impulse is given to the counting device, a light indicator 28 suitably arranged on the edge of the track flashes in order that the player, whose attention is mainly concentrated on his vehicle, may be visually apprised of the impulses on the counting device.

When this phase of the game has been terminated by the re-opening of the contact C, the contact D is actuated in its turn by the cam surface provided on the disc VR. There is then initiated a so-called reduced speed phase of the game, during which, in order to obtain one or more impulses on his individual counting device, each player must suitably slow-down his vehicle in a pre-determined zone (a crossing in front of a school entrance, for example). During this phase, a special signal 29 lights-up at the point of the track thus selected. The diagram of FIG. 5, in association with FIG. 3, illustrates the manner in which, during this stage of the game, the more or less reduced speed imparted at this point of the track to the movable playing piece which the operator controls, may determine to his advantage the recording of points or impulses on the counting device which is individual to him.

From the arrangement of the discs of the programmer, such as has been given by way of example in FIG. 4, it can be seen that after the playing phase of reduced speed, there is once more a shorter phase of free speed followed by a yellow signal 30 controlled by the cam of the disc I. During this very short phase, the contact E ensures simply the illumination of the yellow signal.

After this, the game passes to the compulsory stop phase determined by the action of the cam R and the contact F. During this phase, a red signal 31 is switched on. If the movable playing piece controlled by one of the players passes the red signal, in other words if the moving member 1 controlled by the driving system of this vehicle closes a contact 32, the time-delay relay R4 controls for a few seconds the opening of the corresponding contact r4, and during these few seconds, the penalized movable playing piece cannot start-off again. The duration of this penalization will be adjusted in such manner that it exceeds in all cases the duration of the red signal phase. Thus, the player at fault will have his movable playing piece still immobilized, while his competitor or competitors (if the game is constructed for more than two movable playing pieces) have already started away.

In fact, following this red signal phase, the cycle recommences with its various phases of free speed, reduced speed, etc., up to the end of the game controlled by the action of the programming device.

It will be noted that in FIG. 5, the reference numerals 33 and 34 are contacts provided so as to give a free game when one of the players, in consequence of the large number of impulses recorded by his counting device during the course of the game, has attained a predetermined high score. In this case, the first contact 33 is closed by a device, depending on the counting device, and the second contact 34 is manually operated by the player at the moment when he wishes to start his free game. The excitation of coils 23 returns the counting device 14 to zero while simultaneously opening the switch 33. If a successful player should insert a coin before switch 34 is closed this will result in the loss of the free game. Thus the player must be observant to determine whether a free game has been Won and follow directions to earn the free game.

FIG. 5 also shows, in association with FIG. 1, the manner in which, during the entire course of the game played on a track of varied nature, the action of a double relay R5 embodying the arrangement of the ele ments 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of FIG. 1, will cause the opening of the contact and the corresponding momentary interruption of the supply circuit 0 of the motor which serves to drive one of the movable playing pieces.

It should be observed that in FIG. 5, the contacts 9a and r4 have been shown in the open position for the sake of clearness of the drawing, although they are actually closed in their position of rest.

The device indicated by the double relay R5, more particularly designed for the production of a racing game employing magnetic drive of movable playing pieces on a track or a rolling path of any kind comprising straight lines and curves, will prevent, by a suitable arrangement in series of contacts 2 and 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) before the turns, the passage on these turns of the movable members at a speed which will cause the movable members to leave the track by centrifugal force, and it will also enable the competitors to measure their skill in taking the turnings at the maximum permissible speed.

When separated from the other arrangements of FIG. 5, this device can therefore permit the simplified construction of a game designed within the scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. A racing game comprising a track plate, a plurality of movable playing pieces adapted to travel over said track plate, manually-controlled means for controlling the rate of movement of each playing piece independently of the movement of the other playing pieces, a plurality of electric circuits, one for each piece, each of said circuits including means sensitive to the passage of current for driving the associated playing piece, a first switch means operated by the arrival of the respective playing piece at a predetermined location along the path of the playing piece, a time delay relay controlled by said first switch means, a first branch circuit including a switch which is normally open and is controlled by said relay such that when the latter is rendered operative by the operation of said first switch means the said switch in the branch circuit is closed for a predetermined period of time, secondary switch means in said branch circuit spaced at an interval beyond said first switch means and causing when inoperative the branch circuit to be open, a second branch circuit which includes therein said means which is sensitive to the passage of current, said first branch circuit including a relay, the second branch circuit including a switch which is normally closed and which is controlled by the latter relay to be opened when the said latter relay is energized and normally continuously supplying thereto a current variable in magnitude by said manually-controlled means, said secondary switch means being operated by being contacted by the respective playing piece to be momentarily closed, said means which is sensitive to the passage of current receiving current upon the operation of said secondary switch means only if the latter is operated in a time period in which the time delay relay no longer acts on the switch in the first branch circuit and thereby the latter is in its normal open state and the switch in the second branch circuit remains closed, said time delay relay having a delay of duration related to the spacing of the secondary switch means from the first switch means such that a predetermined reduction from normal speed of the associated playing piece is required to maintain the switch in the second branch circuit closed.

2. A racing game comprising a track plate, a plurality of movable playing pieces adapted to travel over said track plate, manually-controlled means for moving each playing piece independently of the movement of the other playing pieces, a plurality of electric circuits, one for each playing piece, each of said circuits including means sensitive to the passage of current therein for generating an impulse for the rewarding of the associated moving playing piece, a switch interrupting said circuit when said switch is open, a first switch means operated by the arrival of the respective playing piece at a predetermined point along the path thereof, a time delay relay controlled by said first switch means and associated with said switch to change the state thereof when the relay is energized by the action of said first switch means, secondary switch means in said circuit spaced at an interval beyond said first switch means and effecting, when open interruption of the circuit, said secondary switch means being operated by being contacted by the respective playing piece, said circuit being closed when the secondary switch means and the said switch are both closed whereupon a current pulse is supplied to the said means, said time delay relay having a delay of duration related to the spacing of the secondary switch means from the first switch means such that a predetermined departure from normal speed of the associated playing piece is required to effect closing of the circuit 3. A racing game of the type in which a plurality of movable playing pieces are adapted to travel on a track plate under the influence of manually-controlled means for each playing piece in such manner that each playing piece is controlled independently of the other playing pieces, said game comprising: electrical means accociated with each playing piece for establishing speed conditions relevant to the movement as the respective piece on the plate at particular precise locations in the path of the piece and means for penalizing said pieces in accordance with the absolute speed of said pieces for failing to satisfy said conditions and for rewarding said pieces for meeting said conditions established at respective precise locations in the paths, whereby said pieces must be closely controlled relative to their movement at specific locations in the paths there-of.

4. A racing game of the type in which a plurality of movable playing pieces are adapted to travel on a track plate under the influence of manually-controlled means for each playing piece in such manner that each playing piece is controlled independently of the other playing pieces, said game comprising: electrical means associated with each playing piece for establishing speed conditions relevant to the movement of the respective piece on the plate, at particular precise locations in the path of the piece and means responsive to the absolute speed of each said piece at said particular precise locations in the path thereof to penalize said pieces by varying amounts related to the speed of movement of the piece for failing to satisfy said conditions whereby said pieces must be closely controlled relative to their movement at specific locations in the paths thereof.

5. A racing game of the type in which a plurality of movable playing pieces are adapted to travel on a track .plate under the influence of manually-controlled means for each playing piece in such manner that each playing piece is controlled independently of the other playing pieces, said game comprising: electrical means associated with each playing piece for establishing speed conditions relevant to the movement of the respective piece on the plate at a particular precise location in the path of the piece, and means responsive to the absolute speed of each said piece at said particular precise location on the path thereof for rewarding said piece in varying amounts as a function of the speed of the piece for satisfying said conditions whereby said pieces must be closely controlled relative to their movement at a specific location in the paths thereof.

6. In a racing game having a plurality of movable playing pieces adapted to travel on a track plate under the influence of manually-controlled means for each playing piece such that each playing piece is controlled independently of the other playing pieces, electrical means associated with each piece and located at a particular station along the path of each piece for establishing a condition related to the speed of movement of each piece along said path and for penalizing the pieces for failing to satisfy said conditions, said means comprising: first circuit means including switch means located in the path of the corresponding piece and adapted for being closed by the piece as it contacts the same to energize said first circuit means, and second circuit means including switch means positioned in the path of the piece and located after the first said switch means relative to the direction of movement of the piece for being closed by said piece as the same contacts the latter switch means, said first circuit means being operatively coupled to the second circuit means to energize the latter only for a predetermined period of time after the first circuit is energized and means coupled to the second circuit means and the corresponding piece for deenergizing the latter when the piece contacts the switch means of the second circuit means at a time after having contacted the switch means of the first circuit means which is less than said period of time for which the second circuit means is energized.

7. In a racing game having a plurality of movable playing pieces adapted to travel on a track plate under the influence of manually-controlled means for each playing piece such that each playing piece is controlled independently of the other playing pieces, electrical means associated with each piece and located at a particular station along the path of the piece for establishing conditions relevant to the speed of the piece along said path and for indicating in positive manner compliance of said piece with said conditions, said means comprising: first circuit means including switch means located in the path of the corresponding piece for being closed by the piece as the same contacts the switch means to energize said first circuit means, and said circuit means including a plurality of switch means each being positioned in the path of the piece at locations after the first said switch means relative to the direction of movement of the piece for being closed by the piece as the same contacts the respective switch means of the second circuit means, each of the switch means of the second circuit means being located a different distance from the switch means of the first circuit means and thereby imposing a separate speed requirement for said piece, said first circuit means being operatively coupled to the second circuit means to energize the latter only for a predetermined period of time after the piece has energized the first circuit means, and means coupled to the second circuit means for receiving a pulse each time the piece contacts one of the switch means of the second circuit means thereby closing the latter said circuit means to energize the same provided the latter said switch means is contacted within said predetermined period of time after the first circuit means has been energized.

8. In a racing game having a plurality of movable playing pieces adapted to travel 011 a track plate under the influence of manually-controlled means for each playing piece such that each playing piece is controlled independently of the other playing pieces, electrical means associated with each piece and located at a particular station along the path of the piece for establishing conditions relevant to the speed of the piece along said path and for indicating in positive manner compliance of said piece with said conditions, said means comprising: first circuit means including switch means located in the path of the corresponding piece for being closed by the piece as the same contacts the switch means to energized said first circuit means, and second circuit means including a plurality of switch means each being positioned in the path of the piece at locations after the first said switch means relative to the direction of movement of the piece for being closed by the piece as the same contacts the respective switch means of the second circuit means, each of the switch means of the second circuit means being located a different distance from the switch means of the first circuit means and thereby imposing a separate speed requirement for said piece, said first circuit means being operatively coupled to the second circuit means to deenergize the latter only for a predetermined period of time after the piece has energized the first circuit means, and means coupled to the second circuit means for receiving a pulse each time the piece contacts one of the switch means of the second circuit means, thereby closing the latter said circuit means to energize the same, provided the latter switch means is contacted subsequent to said predetermined period of time after the first circuit means has been energized.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,448 11/ 1939 Williams 27386 2,631,853 3/1953 Haynes et al 27386 2,687,304 8/1954 Northrop et al 27386 2,750,683 6/1956 Theobald 351l X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, H. S. MILLER, S. E. FELD- MAN, Assistant Examiners. 

3. A RACING GAME OF THE TYPE IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE PLAYING PIECES ARE ADAPTED TO TRAVEL ON A TRACK PLATE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MANUALLY-CONTROLLED MEANS FOR EACH PLAYING PIECE IN SUCH MANNER THAT EACH PLAYING PIECE IS CONTROLLED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OTHER PLAYING PIECES, SAID GAME COMPRISING: ELECTRICAL MEANS ACCOCIATED WITH EACH PLAYING PIECE FOR ESTABLISHING SPEED CONDITIONS RELEVANT TO THE MOVEMENT AS THE RESPECTIVE PIECE ON THE PLATE AT PARTICULAR PRECISE LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE PIECE AND MEANS FOR PENALIZNG SAID PIECES IN 